Sugar beet seed drill and fertilizer attachment



y 1944- H. H. RADDEREI AL 2,354,541

SUGAR BEET SEED DRILL AND FERTILIZER ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 13, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 juvufl'ots E a M/FADDE P W/u/AMAtfiADDE July 25, 1944. RADDE ETAL 2,354,541

SUGAR BEET SEED DRILL AND FERTILIZER ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 13, 1941- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WlLL/AMAJ-PADDE (Urea/wan July 25, 1944. H. H. RADDEET'AL SUGAR BEE'I' SEED DRILL AND FERTILIZER ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet s 5 E E m n u. 0 w A hf NM NM wk O 0 NA\ 0 I II 0 0 0 BED N 0 0 l l .W b 3V an. b N N QM W N. I 0 MM! M O n L a N h y 1944- H. H. RADDE ETAL 2,354,541 I SUGAR BEET SEED DRILL AND FERTILIZER ATTACHMENT Fil ed Aug. 13, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 25, 1944 SUGAR BEET SEED DRILL AND FERTILIZER ATTACHIVIENT Henry H.

Radde and William A. Radde,

Bay City, Mich.

Application August 13, 1941, Serial No. 406,678

4 Claims. (01. 111-59) This invention relates to a seed drill and fertilizer attachment which is especially designed for planting sugar beet seed, but which may also be used for planting other seed such as corn, peas, beans, and the like.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for dropping single seeds in any given distance of rows or hills, and for spreading fertilizer in any given amount. T

A further object of this invention is the production of a fertilizer attachment which will deposit fertilizer to the sides of and under theseed which is being planted.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the seed drill and fertilizer attachment;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4qis a horizontal sectional view taken on line'44 of Figure 2; a t

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on. line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 65 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the seed distributing hopper;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the lower end of the fertilizer distributing hopper;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the frame of the machine illustrating the lift control leverand associated parts;

Figure 12 is 'afragmentary sectional view taken on line |2 |2 of Figure 8.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that l5 designates the main frame which carries a transverse axle it. This axle I6 issupported by wheels H. A draft yoke I8 is carried by the forward end of the frame l5 and this yoke I8 is supported by a pivot wheel l9. A suitable draft means 26 is secured to the yoke l8.

A fertilizer hopper supporting frame 2| is hung below the main frame l5, and the frame 2| supports a pair of fertilizer hoppers 32 nearthe forward portion of the frame 2|. -A crank shaft 23 extends transversely across the frame l5 at its forward end, and a crank shaft 24 extends transversely across the frame l5 near its rear end. The crank arms 25 of the shaft ztl are pivotally connected to the rear of the frame 2|, as at 25. The crank arms- 21 of the shaft- 23 are connected to the forward end of the frame 2| by means of links 28, as shown in Figure'3. The frame 2| is provided with upwardly bent portions 29 near the rear thereof to avoid contact with the shaft 69 carried by the frame 36 when the frame 45 is raised. A link 39 is connected to'the 'arms 25 and 21 upon each side of the machine.

Fertilizer distributers 3| are carried by the frame 2| near the front thereof and at each side, as shown. The distributers 3| each comprises a hopper 32 open at its upper end. An adjuster wheel 33 is carried within the lower end of the hopper 32 adjacent the bottom discharge spout '34. Aregulato-r gate 35 is'located at the junction of the hopper 32 with the spout 34 to control the discharge of fertilizer from'the hopper 32. The'spout 34 tapers toward itsv lower end, as at 35, the lower 'end 35 having upwardly tapering and laterally spaced inverted V-shaped discharge openings 31 at the bottom thereof.

The adjuster wheel 33 is driven by a sh'aft738 carried transversely of the frame 2|. The shaft is driven by means of 'a sprocket chain 39 which passes'over a sprocket wheel 45 carried by the shaft'38 and a drive sprocket wheel M carried by the axle It: An auxiliary sprocket wheel- 42 is carried by the shaft 38 and an auxiliary sprocket wheel 43 'is carriedby the axle Hi topermit a change of drive ratio when desired by placing a chain over the wheel 42 and 43 in place of the wheels 4|! and 4|. A clutch 4g, is carried by the axle lit-to connect and release the drive between-the axle l6" and the shaft 38." Aclutch operating lever '45 is carried by'the frame -|5 to facilitate the operation o'fthe clutch 44 from the rear of the machine.

A pair of seeder drill supporting, frames GB'are swung below the franie'2l, one at each side as shown. The frames arepreferably hinged. as at 41, at their forward ends andare suspended by chains 48 at their rear ends. These chains 43 pass over circular guides 69 carried byythe frame l5 to space the chains from the shaft 24. A hand lever 50 is carried by the shaft 24 to, facilitate rotation 'of the shaft to lift the frames 2| and 45. A quadrant 5| is pivoted upon the lever'50. and is adapted to engagefthe edge of the rear end'of the frame I 5, to hold'thelever 5|) ina set position.

A sprin'gEZ engages thepivoted quadrant-5| and holds the quadrant 5| releasably in engagement with the frame l5, as shown in Figure 2. A quadrant releasing rod 53 engages the quadrant 5| and is also secured to the hand grip 54 carried by the lever 50. The shaft 23 is connected to the lever 50 by means of the links 55 and 56. The forward end of the link 56 is connected to the upstanding arm 51 of the shaft 23, as shown in Figure 2. The wheels I! are secured to the axle l6 by ratchets 58 to facilitate turning of the machine, as well as backing. The ratchets 58 are so arranged as to permit rotation of the axle l6 only when the machine is moving in a forward direction.

A seeder hopper 59 is carried by each frame 46 near its rear end and this hopper 59 is provided with a seeder wheel chamber 60 at its bottom from the lower end of which chamber extends a A seeder wheel 62 is rotatably seeder sho 6|. mounted in the chamber 60, and the wheel 62 is provided with an annular flange 63 having radial seed-receiving apertures 64 extending from the periphery and through the flange. Headed seed ejector pins 65 are slidably mounted in the apertures 64, the heads of the pins limiting the movement of the pins in one direction. A stationary circular plate 66 is supported inwardly of the annular flange 63 by a'bracket 61. A roller 68 is carried within anotch 69 formed in the bottom edge of the plate 66 just above. the shoe 6| and in a position to provide rolling contact with the inner ends of the pins 65 as they pass under the roller 68.

As the wheel 62 rotates the seed, one or more at a time will drop into the apertures 64 as the pins 65 drop inwardly toward the center of the wheel 62. As the wheel 62 continues to rotate, and the headed pins come into contact with the roller 68, the pins 65 will be forced outwardly toward the periphery of the wheel 62, and the seed will drop down through the shoe 6|. The wheel 62 is carried by a shaft 10, which shaft is driven by a sprocket H, from a chain 12 which chain in turn is driven from a-sprocket wheel carried by the shaft 38.

A cam shoe 66 is carried by the plate 66 and is adapted to engage under the heads of the pins 65 as the pins 65 pass the-shoe 66 and pull these pins inwardly in the manner shown in Figures 5 2 8 and 12, to provide seed pockets in the outer ends of the apertures 64. The positive inward pulling of the pins 65 by the shoe 66 will prevent the pins from sticking in the apertures 64 which would prevent the entrance of seed into the outer i ends of the apertures 64. A wiper gate 63 is hinged above the upper end of the flange 63, as shown in Figure 8, to wipe the outer edge'of the flange 63 as the wheel 62 rotates to direct the seed fertilizer and seeder as the machine moves for- .ward. A set of furrow-forming discs 14, as shown,

are carried by the forward end of each frame 46 in the rear of the scraper 12 and in front of the fertilizer distributer 3|, to form a series of seed and fertilizer-receiving troughs or trenches in the soil. Atrench-covering wheel15 inclined from its outer edges toward the center for cover- .ing the seed and fertilizer after the seed and fertilizer have been deposited in the trenches. A tapering scraper plate 16is carried by the'rear end of each frame "46 for scraping the wheel 15,

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very simple and efficient machine has been provided for dropping single seeds in any given distance of rows or hills, depending upon the spacing of the seed-receiving apertures within the wheel 62 and the speed at which the wheel is driven. Furthermore the fertilizer may be spread in a desired amount in advance of depositing the seed in the furrows or ditches. Through the medium of the present device seed may be saved for the reason that the seed may be economically and evenly distributed. Considerable labor will be saved by eliminating blocking and thinning as is usual with many planters now in use. Furthermore, because of the manner in which the seed is deposited in the ground, the plant will have a better chance to thrive since the plant will not be disturbed after once starting to grow. The present device is adapted to plant sugar beet seeds or any other similar seed, such as corn, peas, beans, and the like, in any desired space or rows according to the size of the machine and the ratio of the drive wheels and gears. Additional rows may be provided by adding additional units should it be necessary. Only two units have been illustrated in the present instance. Because of the structure of the seeder wheel it will not be likely to clog or miss in view of the fact that a definite extracting element is provided for ejecting the seed into the seeder shoe. Furthermore should any part discontinue its function the operator would immediately observe this fact. Because of the arrangement of the fertilizer distributer or hopper illustrated and described, the

" fertilizer will be deposited to the side of the trench in which the seeds are deposited and then the seeds will be covered and some of the fertilizer will be underneath the seeds. The gate 35 may be operated to control the amount of fertilizer deposited. When it is desired to sow the seed deep, the lever 56 may be adjusted to regulate the positionof the frames 46 with respect to the ground and by throwing the clutch 44 out, the operation of all moving parts will be discontinued with the exception of the operation of the wheels IT. The wheels I! are free to operate at all times and are provided with a ratchet 58, as illustrated and described, to facilitate turning and backing, the ratchet being arranged to provide only a forward drive for the axle l6. The scrapers 12 which constitute patch cleaners do not dig into the soil but only level the soil. The purpose of these scrapers 12 is to give the seeder wheel a clear and even path into which to drop the seed. This will give a more uniform growth of the beets because the seeds are all planted at the same depth. If the ground were uneven this would not be possible, for one seed might then be planted deep and another shallow.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the construction and combination of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims,

Having described the invention, what we claim as new is:

1. A seed drill and fertilizer attachment comprising a main frame, supporting wheels for said frame, a fertilizer distributer supporting frame hung below said main frame, means for raising and lowering said second mentioned frame, means for actuating said distributer, means for con trolling said last mentioned means, a seeder means located in the rear ofsaid fertilizer distributer, a seeder means supporting frame hung below said distributer supporting frame, a scraper carried by the forward end of said last mentioned frame, trench-forming discs located between said scraper and fertilizer distributer, and a covering element located in the rear of said seeder means.

2. A seed drill and fertilizer attachment comprising a main frame, supporting wheels for said frame, a fertilizer distributer supporting frame hung below said main frame, means for raising and lowering said second mentioned frame, means for actuating said distributer, means for controlling said last mentioned means, a seeder means located in the rear of said fertilizer distributer, a seeder means supporting frame hung below said distributer supporting frame, a scraper carried by the forward end of said last mentioned frame, trench-forming discs located between said scraper and fertilizer distributer, a covering element located in the rear of said seeder means, a tapering scraper plate engaging said covering element, said covering element having a circumferential V-shaped channel in its periphery, and adjustable lifting and lowering means for said seeder means supporting frame.

3. A seed drill and fertilizer attachment comprising a main frame, supporting Wheels for said frame, a fertilizer distributer supporting frame hung below said main frame, means for raising and lowering said second mentioned frame, means for actuating said distributer, means for controlling said last mentioned means, a seeder means located in the rear of said fertilizer distributer, a seeder means supporting frame hung below said distributer supporting frame, a scraper carried by the forward end of said last mentioned frame, trench-forming discs located between said scraper and fertilizer distributer, a covering element located in the rear of said seeder means, a tapering scraper plate engaging said,

covering element, said covering element having a circumferential V-shaped channel in its periphery, and a lifting and lowering lever mounted upon said main frame, a quadrant pivoted to said lever and engaging the edge of said main frame for holding the lever in a selected position, spring means for holding the quadrant in a frame-engaging position, and flexible means connecting the lever and said seeder means supporting frame.

4. A seed drill and fertilizer attachment com prising a main frame, supporting wheels for said frame, a fertilizer distributer supporting frame hung below said main frame, means for raising and lowering said second mentioned frame, means for actuating said distributer, means for controling said last mentioned means, a seeder means located in the rear of said fertilizer distributer, a seeder means supporting frame hung below said distributer supporting frame, driving means for said seeder means, said seeder means being carried by said seeder means supporting frame, a scraper carried by the forward end of said last mentioned frame, trench-forming discs located between said scraper and fertilizer distributer, and a covering element located in the rear of said seeder means.

HENRY H. RADDE. WILLIAM A. RADDE. 

